Ballywalter Estate, Co. Down – 5th and 6th May 2012

This year the Great Game Fairs of Ireland 2012 theme moves towards game fishing with the ‘Year of the Salmon and Trout.’ With the recent controversy over netting in Northern Ireland this theme is likely to prove even more relevant than at first thought. The centre piece of each enhanced Angling Village will be an Angling Pavilion featuring not only the joys and skills associated with Game Angling but also the history and traditions of the sport and the environmental threats to the sport.
Many organisations will be involved in first Ballywalter and then with even more enhanced villages at Shanes and Birr but FISSTA and APGAI Ireland have proven to be of tremendous support in taking the concept forward. APGAI Ireland will have a major presence in the Angling Pavilion at Ballywalter and with FISSTA will be largely responsible for co-ordinating the Angling Villages at Birr and Shanes Castle.
Also in the Angling Pavilion will be a fish & game cookery demonstration sponsored by Flogas and featuring Emmett McCourt one of Ireland’s finest fish chefs and a keen angler to boot. In 2011 Emmett not only delighted audiences with his super cooking at all three Great game Fairs of Ireland but at Ballywalter was 2nd in the casting competitions beaten only by Ireland’s young casting sensation Thomas Armstrong!
Of course, this being a game fair, there is more than just fishing visit www.ballywaltergamefair.com to find out more or better yet why not go to Ballywalter this weekend to find out for yourself…

ANGLING COMPETITIONS, COACHING & DEMOS


The Angling competitions are organised by Angling Director Mark Patterson and GAIA sponsored by FlyFishNI & Loop Tackle
The Game Angling Instructors Association (GAIA) will be running the angling related events at this year’s Ballywalter Game and Country Fair. APGAI Ireland will also be in attendance at the Fair in the Angling Pavilion in the Fisherman’s Village.
Main arena demonstrations will be carried out by Robert Gillespie and Glenda Powell.
The sponsors of the Angling Competitions are FlyFishNI Irelands newest tackle outlet. It will be Irelands only Loop Pro Shop and is owned and managed by Mark Patterson who is also a Loop pro guide and Instructor. The shop is based in Bangor and will be open by arrangement by contacting Mark on 07771892506 or [email protected]. Mark has been appointed as Angling director for the Ballywalter Game Fair and as such he will be organising all the angling events including casting demonstrations, casting instruction, casting competitions, fly tying demonstrations and instruction.
Mark advises various angling bodies in Northern Ireland, including Bann System Ltd., Causeway Coast and Glens Tourism, and The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure ( DCAL ), and runs and organises projects for them. This includes; a mini salmon hatchery in the classroom in over 50 primary schools over the last four years; Bann guides project where he has recruited and trained angling guides to work on the Lower Bann; set up a Bann Start Fly Fishing School to introduce children to angling; and produced a quality angling guide for Causeway Coast and Glens Tourism. Mark also works at Angling Fairs and Game Fairs as a consultant and instructor in fly fishing as well as guiding visiting anglers.
He specialises in fishing for wild brown trout in the Loughs and rivers of Ireland but also fly fishes for salmon, sea trout, pike, mullet and bass and can arrange guiding for all these species. He offers fly fishing instruction on a one to one basis or with small groups from absolute beginners to serious fly anglers who want to improve their casting or work towards their casting qualifications. All necessary Loop tackle can be supplied to clients during instruction.
Mark, along with loop Tackle will be sponsoring the prizes for the casting competitions at the three Great Game Fairs of Ireland. Mark and FlyFishNI will also have a stand at all the fairs so come along and check out the latest Loop Tackle especially the new Loop Cross S1 rods – ‘The game changer.’
At Ballywalter experienced instructors will also be offering instruction throughout the fair. They will be able to offer instruction to complete beginners all the way through to experienced anglers who want to brush up their casting as well as being able to offer mentoring to anyone aspiring to become an instructor.
Glenda Powell, no stranger to the Great Game Fairs of Ireland, will also be entering into the spirit of the Victorian theme in appropriate period dress and gracing the main arena with demonstrations.
The top four novice casters qualify for the Barbour All Ireland Game Fair Novice Fly Casting Championships at Shanes Castle and the top four casters overall qualify for the All Ireland Allcomers Game Fair Fly Casting Championships at Birr Castle.
Visit www.ballywaltergamefair.com to find out more